Open AccessIdentification of an Essential Gene ofListeria monocytogenesInvolved in Teichoic Acid Biogenesis
Author(s) -
Iharilalao Dubail,
Armelle Bigot,
Vladimir Lazarević,
Blazenka Soldo,
Daniel Euphrasie,
Marion Dupuis,
Alain Charbit
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.652
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1067-8832
pISSN - 0021-9193
DOI - 10.1128/jb.00771-06
Subject(s) - biology , teichoic acid , listeria monocytogenes , microbiology and biotechnology , bacillus subtilis , gene , mutant , biogenesis , sigma factor , listeria , bacteria , genetics , staphylococcus aureus , gene expression , promoter
Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular gram-positive bacterium responsible for severe opportunistic infections in humans and animals. We had previously identified a gene encoding a putative UDP-N -acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase, a precursor of the teichoic acid linkage unit, in the genome ofL monocytogenes strain EGD-e. This gene, now designated lmo2537, encodes a protein that shares 62% identity with the cognate epimerase MnaA ofBacillus subtilis and 55% identity with Cap5P ofStaphylococcus aureus . Here, we addressed the role of lmo2537 inL. monocytogenes pathogenesis by constructing a conditional knockout mutant. The data presented here demonstrate that lmo2537 is an essential gene ofL. monocytogenes that is involved in teichoic acid biogenesis. In vivo, the conditional mutant is very rapidly eliminated from the target organs of infected mice and thus is totally avirulent.